Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (publ)

Atc Technologies, Inc.

Ove Karlsson

Jan Dahl

Andreas Anulf

Patrik Teppo

Kiran Jadhav

Robert Törnkvist

Systems and methods are provided for generating announcement information at a communication node. The method includes: generating a first announcement information associated with a first user; generating a second announcement information associated with a second user; and transmitting the first and second announcement information to a telephony application server, wherein the first announcement information and the second announcement information include at least one different element of data, further wherein both the first and second announcement information are used to generate or select announcements which are transmitted to the first and second users during a call between the first and second users.

Methods and systems for different mid-call announcements to both served and non-served parties at the same time

A charging trigger function (CTF) in a communication network () advantageously uses pre-allocated usage units to authorize the use of a communication service by a user, when a pre-allocated usage unit is available with respect to the involved communication service and user. A pre-allocation function (PAF) provides the one or more pre-allocated usage units directly to the CTF () or indirectly via an online charging function (OCF). The pre-allocated usage units are determined, for example, according to predicted usage information, user account information, and configured rules. A usage prediction function (UPF) in the network () uses user-related information, such as historical usage data or other activity by the user, to generate the predicted usage information. Among its other advantages, authorizing the use of the communication service based on pre-allocated usage units obviates or reduces the need for usage authorization signaling going between the CTF and OCF.

Method and apparatus for providing a communication service in a communication network using preallocated usage units

A method of providing location-related charging information to a charging system associated with an IP Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, network, where the location-related charging information relates to a session or session initiation or an event involving at least two users. The method comprises, at a Charging Trigger Function, CTF, within the IMS network, receiving a Session Initiation Protocol, SIP, message from each of said users, each message containing a SIP header identifying a location of the sending user. Location information of each user is added to a charging message sent from the CTF to said charging system, location information being, or being derived from, the content of the SIP header received from the user or being derived from that SIP header.

Provision of location information in an IP Multimedia Subsystem network

Online charging within an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). A method comprises, at an IMS charging node: (a) receiving a credit control request message from an IMS service network node over a service charging interface provided between the IMS service node and the IMS charging node; (b) determining with reference to one or more triggering conditions that an announcement is to be provided to a user associated with the credit control request message and/or another user; and (c) following such a determination, initiating an announcement service in the IMS service node by sending an announcement request in a credit control answer message over the service charging interface to the IMS service node, the credit control answer message being in response to the credit control request message and the announcement request comprising announcement information relating to the announcement to be provided.

Method and apparatus relating to online charging in an IP multimedia subsystem

A node for use in a telecommunication network. The apparatus comprises a service session handler for establishing and controlling service sessions on behalf of end users served by the telecommunications network, and a charging generation point for generating charging data for established sessions involving served users as originating users and for reporting that charging data to a network charging system. The apparatus further comprises a signalling message handler for receiving, in respect of a given service session between an originating and a terminating user, a signalling message sent by or on behalf of the terminating user, the signalling message containing cost apportionment data apportioning costs between the originating and terminating users, the signalling message handler being configured to pass that cost apportionment data to the charging generation point. The charging generation point is further configured to apply the cost apportionment data to the generation of charging data so that the charging data reflects the required cost apportionment.

Methods and apparatus for allocating service costs in a telecommunications network

A method is provided which relates to online charging within an IP Multimedia Subsystem, IMS. The method comprises at an IMS charging node (): (a) receiving (S-C) a credit control request message from an IMS service network node () over a service charging interface () provided between the IMS service node () and the IMS charging node (); (b) determining (S-A; S-D) with reference to one or more triggering conditions that an announcement is to be provided to a user associated with the credit control request message and/or another user; and (c) following such a determination, initiating an announcement service in the IMS service node () by sending (S-E) an announcement request in a credit control answer message over the service charging interface () to the IMS service node (), the credit control answer message being in response to the credit control request message, and the announcement request comprising announcement information relating to the announcement to be provided.

A method is provided for online charging within an IP Multimedia Subsystem, IMS. A first credit control request message is received (S-A) at an IMS charging node () from an IMS service network node () over a service charging interface () provided between the IMS service node () and the IMS charging node (). In response to receipt of the first credit control message, it is determined (S-B) at the IMS charging node (), with reference to one or more triggering conditions, that a replenishment of credit is to be offered for a user associated with the first credit control request message. Following such a determination, a credit replenishment service is initiated in the IMS service node () by sending (S-D) a replenishment request in a first credit control answer message over the service charging interface () from the IMS charging node () to the IMS service node (), the first credit control answer message being in response to the first credit control request message. Alternatively, a credit replenishment service is initiated (S-E) in the IMS charging node (). In this alternative, a second credit control request message associated with the user is received (S-F) from a transport network node () over a bearer charging interface () provided between the transport node () and the IMS charging node (); and, in response to receipt of the second credit control request message and as part of the replenishment service, a replenishment request is sent (S-G) in a second credit control answer message over the bearer charging interface () to the transport node (), the second credit control answer message being in response to the second credit control request message.

Method and apparatus for online charging in an IP multimedia subsystem

Apparatus for use within an IP Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, network to handle Session Initiation Protocol, SIP, messages. The apparatus comprises a receiver for receiving a SIP message from a peer IMS node, and a SIP message inspector for inspecting a P-Charging-Vector, PCV, header within a received SIP message in order to detect the presence within the PCV header of a parameter and associated handling determinator. The apparatus further comprises a SIP message handler for determining, on the basis of a handling determinator and without reference to said associated parameter, an action or actions to be applied to said parameter and associated handling determinator.

Charging information transfer in the IMS

Apparatus configured to operate as a network element within an IMS to provide services to a subscriber. The apparatus comprises a receiver for receiving charging function information for the subscriber provided by a subscriber profile server, the charging function information including an indication of a plurality of IMS network element types that may be used to provide services to the subscriber and, for each of the plurality of IMS network element types, specifying whether an IMS network element of that type should send charging information for the subscriber to an offline charging function and whether an IMS network of that type should send charging information for the subscriber to an online charging function. The apparatus further comprises a processor for determining whether the IMS network element should send charging information for the subscriber to an offline charging function and whether the IMS network should send charging information for the subscriber to an online charging function and a transmitter for sending charging information to any of an offline charging function accordingly.

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Emmaboda, Sweden

Ove Karlsson